Sweet fragrance or repelling stench

We all desire to be seen as someone with the ability to do something. The 'go to person' for a particular thing. To sit head and shoulders above the rest in some area, or some particular topic arena is a craving for most of us. It is nothing wrong with this because it causes us to feel good about ourselves, and work hard to cultivate the talent. Helps us to shine, to smile more, and to become generous in our giving. However, if you find you desire more to be seen as the great expert, in whatever it is you do, over being gracious and sharing with others, you missed the purpose. Our gifts, talents, unique skill set, and wisdom is always meant to be shared with others, not held on to as a proverbial carrot to get others to run after us to get it. Until we understand this truth, being able to stand head and shoulder above others will not matter because people are not looking or do not care because instead of having a sweet fragrance that draw, it release a stench that repels.

Getting noticed for something you do well, does not meant it is about, even thought it is for you. It will be never be about me, even if it looks like it will or is. In order to stay the sweet fragrance rather than the stench, you must reconfigure the lens you see your life, and life through. Evolution of you begins when you become less afraid of your truth in front all all people, and not marinating on the negatives in your life, but to live honest out in the open. See, the historical individuals who were positive examples became great not because of their unique skill set and wisdom, but their graciousness - it is not about me attitude... They were a sweet fragrance that drew others to them, not a stench repelling them because they were not selfish. So, if you are wondering why this person who has less talent or equal talent is succeeding in areas you are not granted access. It is either you are still in the journey to become, so look and learn, or you are making it more about you than it is about others. See, this latter thing is a sneaking thing that manifest itself in various disguises, and is always self destructive. 

The most prevalent insidious ones are the times where family members or like family friends are involved. We jump to their rescue because we say I do not want to see them fail, but they are not making any effort what so ever to not fall, matter fact they are doing the opposite. Yet, we continue to toil to keep them free, upright, afloat, and making sure they are getting the things they need. Yet, in the bible Jesus never heal, or perform a miracle where the person(s) did not have to participant in the change. Could He have done so without their participation, absolutely, but it was about the person, not Him. And because it was not about Him the sweet fragrance drew all to Him; God's logic, God's order, and our obedience. Learn it, it works every time. You got to have the faith you speak about, you must act, you mustlive it, then ask yourself sweet fragrance or repelling stench...

The Journey Called Faith

As I begin this journey of accepting, negotiating, and living this call upon my life. I am frighten, as I wonder how I can escape or minimize the pitfalls that reside in this walk of faith. Where the temptation of pleasing others sits in the shadow waiting for a window weakness to enter. Not being able to escape the fear of the many voices in my ear trying to influence directions, and pull me from my path. When the singular voice of God is what started me on the journey but that same voice is being drown out by the chaos surrounding me. It is overwhelming to me as I sit in the cool of the night, soaking in all that has transpired for me, and warm tears appear; I do not know what to do but stand. I close my eyes praying, am I strong enough in my faith, and gracious enough in my demeanor to not offend others who mean well but never stop to ask me any questions, only assume they know what is needed to be imparted. I am lost in the emotions as the many hands and spirits touched me, while some blessed me, others drained me...I continue to remember - We must learn to understand before trying to be understood. I wonder, what joke God was playing with me, and when is the game over; but that is a fantasy. Reality is here with me struggling to breathe in right because I know this too shall pass, the moment will be over, and I will rise like the phoenix, if I do not get lost in this momentary madness trying to engulf me.

In the deepest recesses of my soul, I know God just wants me to be authentic and truthful in my faith, no matter what, and even if no one follows with me. No one believes in the truth I see, and know in my heart. Yet, I cannot stop my mind from running in circles seeking balance because this is all so new to me. Then I decided, I should seek the lessons, and own the teachable moments; live, learn, not dwell because it is the journey that matters not the event...We all should...
See, we should not forget it is never just about us but for us to share what it is within us. To be the patience listener, who is in the moment, to be the apt students who learns and become the teacher, while seeing the unseen and the seen with our soul and eyes. Being flexible enough to embrace another's truth, without losing our deepest spiritual conviction, or uniformly impressing our perspective upon the unsuspecting soul. We only draw when we remember it is not about me. Although It is unnatural and unpopular, it allows the cream to rise to the top and peace to take resident in our lives. We choose...

Was he blind or not from the movie – The Book of Eli.

Today I went to eat with a friend of mind. It was nothing different about the lunch we were chit-chatting, nothing general. But as conversations sometimes go, we hit upon a sensitive subject for me. I was evasive because I was not ready or willing to have the conversation that was taking form. It was not lost on my friend. So, I was pushed, challenged, and questioned on every answer, excuse given for my hesitation to not go public with the call upon my life. I did not think the atmosphere was the right setting for the emotional upheaval that would surely result, and I did not see, I was being understood. But as I drove home, I was a little angry why she did not see, I then realized something, the answer, the advice provided was right, even if I could not see there was comprehension of what I was trying to say; seek to understand before being understood and see life situation change….It did not change what she said for me to do was the truth; funny thing is I already knew this…lol… I now have to apologize, and thank her all at the same time….(I have come a long way because there was time, I would have done neither, and rationalized it to be right, okay, and the best thing for me because I did not want to think the person was smarter than me. Now, I do not care; it helps me on my path, so be it…smiling)…And then it hit me, how many times do we do not pay attention to the right answer in front of us because we believe, we are not understood. The person does not get me. The answer is far too simple to be correct; I am too complex for this. See, it does not matter if they get you; the right answer is the right answer. But we have been so consumed with what we have been rolling around in our head, or devoted to that one objective, without surrendering to the moment and truly absorbing what is being provide; a teachable moment…wink… We fail to realize, just because they have no frame of reference or context from which you come, or totally understand your struggle or dilemma, it does not mean the right answer cannot be given. We all so fond of the old adage – out of the mouth of babes, truth speaks- the babes, children do not understand, have the frame of references to grasp the complexity of the problem, but they still provide the right answer, or give the next logical step. Now, we just have to be humble and wise enough to submit to the truth spoken. I am so grateful for the people in my life who are willing to tell me the truth, to help me to see what I did not see….kind like this… The Book of Eli movie…

There have been families not speaking, husbands/wives not speaking, friends separated as a result of seeing this movie, and dynamics of friendship groups change because of this movie. All because they cannot decide, or agree if he was blind or not. It is amazing what we will get hooked on, and the main issue goes over their heads. Whether he was blind or not does not matter? Asked yourself, what would have changed about the movie, if he was blind? What would have made more sense in the movie, if he had sight? To both of these question, I say, nothing because the movie was about faith, and how we sometime are so focus on the mission, we miss true meaning. We too many time get absorb in the objective because it is the obvious. Yet, it is not about us, but it is for us as the vessel to surrender, not get consume with the logical conclusion we have rolling around in our heads…Elijah got consumed with the big stuff, he almost missed the ‘voice’ …1 Kings 19:11-13 - Then He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the LORD's presence." At that moment, the LORD passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. When Elijah heard [it], he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (NIV)…At the end of the movie, like Elijah, Eli was liberated mentally, emotionally, and completed his task at hand with God awesome power; that which he was called to do…wink

Truth reveals as time returns...

A power beyond measure requires a protector without equal. From the movie The Bulletproof Monk

Courageous Leaderships means one must develop the following (from the book The Maxwell Daily Reader by John C. Maxwell)….


1. Convictions that are stronger than my fears.

2. Vision that is clearer than my doubts.

3. Spiritual sensitivity that is louder than popular opinion.

4. Self-esteem that is deeper than self-protection.

5. Appreciation for discipline that is greater than my desire for leisure.

6. Dissatisfaction that is more forceful than the status quo.

7. Poise that is more unshakeable than panic.

8. Risk taking that is stronger than safety seeking.

9. Right actions that are more robust than rationalization.

10. A desire to see potential reached more than to see people appeased.



I read the above list during my morning devotion and within this list I innately see with my heart, the greatest battle we will ever fight is the one with self. Actualizing these serious simple statements, allows me to acquire this revelation - if we are to meet our expectations in life and exceed the potential we know, we must change our attitude toward challenges we encounter in life. Manage our emotions better, not looking at what will make me feel better or what is good for me, but rather what is good for us in the long haul and the entire group. Sharing with others, in the form they understand, the lessons you have learned from your teachable moments, rather than hoarding them to look good or better to them. Only then can we see the possibility and the opportunity lying within the challenge before us, and let the teachable moments teach us; we apply them. We are then able to prioritize and focus on adding value to people, which ultimately adds value to us as individuals.

Adding value to others, believe it or not, is the best investment one could ever make in this life. When we do, we begin to see the light and the call that lead and kept our Saviour inspite of the taunts, the hardship, and the hurt. It is always quite difficult to see the exactness of each of our journey in this life, and how it has just the right mixture of chaos, triumph, peace, and victories to help us to become our true self, and to be the catalyst for others to live their truth with the focus on the bigger picture, or the significance of helping another to act on their dream. You do not always have to be the one, you could be the one before the one, or the platform on which the one stands; both are significant positions that matter. We just have to be willing to accept our position in God's plan for our life. It will not always be what we desire, what others think, or fit into the popular opinion of what we should do, but it the only path that allows you to live authentically....wink

The work, preparation has been done….now we must act…

"The path is unsafe. The place is unknown. The journey is unbelievable. " from the movie Forbidden Kingdom.

I am still moving in my weight lost journey but I guess it is not really about the weight lost, as it is about the lifestyle change to maintain a healthy weight and the journey to get there. As we get older, we have to worker harder to get things to stay put…lol…like we would like. But like with so many things in this journey, I have learned we must live in the now, not in what use to be, or what we wish to be because we discount what is now and worked already done. Realizing this made me think of the how we desire to change, but we are unwilling to take an objective stock of who we are really, where we are, the preparation done, and what we see as negotiables in our life. We all have gifts and talents to be a leader in various arenas – formal and informal. Our circle of influence is far greater than we think, or even can imagine. Yet, we fall short of our and others expectations once we actually get in the real world, put ourselves in the arena, field, turf, etc where we know, we belong, and actualize the many talents and gifts within us. Why is that? Failure or less than stellar results we were expecting, come about because the failure to take a true objective stock of self. See, we have not decided to trade momentary satisfaction, or what is good for the moment, for what is good and satisfactory for the long haul. Without willing to accept and do, we will never meet or exceed the expectations of ourself and/or others. Something we must do at any level, regardless of any formal leadership role if we desire to reach our potential and beyond that is within us. Because we are role-models whether we desire to be or not, and we influence others whether we try to or not. Thus, to meet and exceed our expectations starts with intentional incremental small steps in our decision making. See with in my weight lost journey, I realize I will never be the size I use to be, or look like others my age but I can be comfortable being me and develop me to be my best, and know it is an process not an event. I will have to learn moderation, to let go of things and people that are hindrance to my progression; difficult yes, but not impossible. But more importantly, I can carry the confidence within me, which puts me in precision syncopated rhythms for my life. These rhythms in my life allow me to utilize my gifts and talents to create innovative steps for introductions and exits with smooth transition no matter the environment, the atmosphere, or the circumstance.

We just have to believe what is not, can be if we believe what has been put in our spirit and not be afraid because it is not popular. See the work, the preparation has been done, and now we just need to act on it…. Eze. 37:13;9-10 (NIV)- The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know." … Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' " So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

We all have difficulties in life

We all have difficulties in life. They are opportunities to enrich, enhance, and to strengthen us, not moments to defeat us. See consequences of our choices can bring about great deeds which transcends time, space, and linger to touch soul in future generations. Because despite our environment, it is our choice to see the pass the finality disposition, outlook to understand ‘this too shall pass’, or to get in stuck in the disposition of doom and gloom that defeat us. It does not mean you deny the reality of the situation, or the environment you are in, but you choose to see beyond to the bigger and the better in the not too distant shores. For the greatest tragedy of life is not that we do not accomplish, but that we almost. We come to the door of a breakthrough, and yet we do not go through but turn around, failing to see the dream, vision realized in our life. So, the sooner we understand life is a journey with many small events that teach, keep, and bestow wisdom on the diligent soul who seeks the interwoven truth found from man’s experience but beyond man understanding, and only found in God’s truth, the sooner we shall see and have peace. However, this is not an easy task to accomplish. One must be willing to see beyond your own experience, look outside one’s frame of reference, and understand refusing to compromise is become the branch that cannot bend, is broken and burned. For life is not lived in the moments of I am great, I am better, I am the smarter but in the moments of humility and grace because it takes more strength to be humble and give grace, than it does to do the others. On any given day you can be best, but no one can take away your gift of grace, your presentation of humility, or your willing to see beyond self. Yet, it takes one who does let the difficulties of life dictate one growth, but use them as stepping stones to improvement.

I started this journey myself, and it started with weight but it beginning to be so much more. As my body is finding areas of inflexibility, I finding this too exist in me. But like the body, I yield and seek how to make it flexible, and more I work on me, it irritate the H@#%! out of me when others fail to do the same because of the inability to see their inflexibility. I am learning too quickly, slow, easy, determine, grace, faith, and a transformative mindset rewards us will peace...So, I remember this verse below as I continue my weight lost journey, and I hope you too see where you are inflexible, and begin to change; I have...
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”- Eph. 3:20-21 (NIV)

The opportunity and the power of our choice..

We choose everyday, for everything, and too many times we act if what we are doing was forced upon us. When actuality, we choose, whether the choice came from a place of fear, insecurity or confidence, we chose. Therefore, we are responsible and accountable. See we choose to live miserably, or not, we choose to be forgiven or not, we choose to live authentically or not, and we choose to keep the faith or not. So, it now time to own this true, we choose, and choose from and with our hearts...see the song below it provides a powerful affirmation of just how powerful our choice is!

I Choose by India Arie~ lyrics below
Because you never know where life is gonna take you
and you can't change where you've been.
But today, I have the opportunity to choose.

Here am I now looking at 30 and I got so much to say.
I gotta get this off of my chest, I gotta let it go today.
I was always too concerned about what everybody would think.
But I can't live for everybody, I gotta live my life for me.(Yeah)
I pitched a fork in the road of my life and ain't nothing gonna happen unless I decide.

(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be authentic in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose. (Yeah)

I done been through some painful things I thought that I would never make it through.
Filled up with shame from the top of my head to the soles of my shoes.
I put myself in so many chaotic circumstances, but by the grace of God I've been given so many second chances.
But today I decided to let it all go. I'm dropping these bags, I'm making room for my joy.

(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be authentic in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.

Because you never know where life is gonna take you and you can't change where you've been.
But today, I have the opportunity to choose. (Hey ey)
I used to have guilt about why things happen they way they did cuz life is gone do what it do.
And everyday, I have the opportunity to choose.

From this day forward I'm going to be exactly who I am.
I don't need to change the way that I live just to get a man. (NO!)
I even had a talk with my mama and I told her the day I'm grown,
"from this day forward, every decision I make will be my own." And hey!

(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be courageous in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.

(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be authentic in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.

Because you never know where life is gonna take you and you can't change where you've been.
But today, I have the opportunity to choose. (Hey ey)
I used to have guilt about why things happen they way they did cuz life is gone do what it do.
And everyday, I have the opportunity to choose.